Testimonials
Parents
Jodi was my youngest daughter’s teacher during a very difficult year of transition for my family. We have four children and have been in multiple schools in multiple countries over the last decade and I can confidently say that Jodi was the most profoundly influential educator we have ever worked with. Our whole family grew through our experience with her and she is sorely missed in our lives. I would recommend her unconditionally for any role in which human beings are involved... she is one of a kind.
— Bunty Bohra, Student Parent at Singapore American School, Former Partner at Goldman Sachs
In preschool (2016-2017) our son had speech, sensory, and gross motor planning needs. Jodi fostered his unique learning pathway by embracing his interests and creating truly authentic shared learning moments with his peers, teachers, and family. Furthermore, she was able to capture and showcase his learning through photos, videos, and written interpretation. This allowed my family to better connect at home, as well as focus on building our son’s specific speech, sensory, and gross motor skills. He no longer has needs in those areas. I will look back on my son’s time with Jodi and know that his life was positively changed forever.
— Shane Fitts, Student Parent at Singapore American School, IB High School Teacher and Coach
Ms. Jodi was the first formal teacher for my daughters at Singapore American School. She was instrumental in helping them get settled into a new environment, and went above and beyond to liaise with colleagues to try new ways of helping children assimilate concepts as they began to explore the vast knowledge base at school.
— Tanavpreet Longia, Student Parent at Singapore American School, Global Head Deutsche Bank
During 2016-17 I had the opportunity to connect with Jodi both as a colleague and as parent of one of her students at Singapore American School. As a colleague Jodi is a joy to work with and always made time if we needed to grab some photos, video, or information to share with our community as a whole. As a parent I loved having Jodi as our daughter's preschool teacher. Our daughter felt cared for and known as an individual. I see my daughter's personality and character at home but it is really something special when a teacher like Jodi takes time to do the same at school. Jodi is a phenomenal teacher with an outstanding emotional intelligence that both students and parents appreciate.
— Kyle Aldous, Student Parent and Director of Communications at Singapore American School
Jodi was our son's teacher at Singapore American School. A keen practitioner of the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-led learning and discovery, Jodi's had a positive impact on Zach and he's grown tremendously under her guidance. My wife and I are very pleased to recommend Jodi.
— Eddy Abraham, Student Parent at Singapore American School, VP Fullerton Financial Holdings
Teachers
Jodi has taught me to read children through visual documentation. Photos and videos show what is fully happening from the children’s perspectives, which helps me understand how they see and learn with each other. This awareness reminds me that the best way to partner with children is to follow their lead on what they want to discover. My job is to support and stretch the learning.
— Alicia Ortega Cruz, Preschool Teacher, Randolph County NC
Jodi helps me see the value of documenting children while they’re working - without them noticing me and stopping to look at the camera. When children see photos and videos of themselves genuinely engaged, they remember what they were doing and might revisit it, and maybe continue to grow their knowledge in that area. Also, documentation helps parents see what children are doing in the classroom. Some parents think play isn’t learning. Photos and videos show that children learn through play - they learn to trust, communicate, initiate activities, and cooperate with others. All of these are skills that benefit people from childhood through adulthood.
— Jennifer Miller, Preschool Teacher, Randolph County NC
After working with Jodi, I honestly feel like I’m a better teacher than I was before. She brought forth so much knowledge and dropped so many gems about how to use videos and photos to guide lesson planning that meets children where they are, challenges them, and invites them into planning. She instilled in me confidence and skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life. She taught me how documenting simple moments with children can make a great story to inspire more learning.
— Jasmine Cradle, Preschool Teacher, Durham County NC
As childcare professionals, we often get caught up in all the things that we need to do. Jodi is a great reminder about what is truly important about our profession: to connect with children in ways that allow their natural imagination to flow and for them to really show us what it is they need and want from us. She has taught us a tremendous amount about organization and visual documentation. Over time, we can really see our skills being perfected and that our work positively impacts the lives of children and families.
— Alejandra Cruz, Preschool Teacher, Randolph County NC
I have been a teacher at Singapore American School since 2006 and had the pleasure to work in the Early Learning Center with Jodi Wert. I always found her to be truly professional and collaborative. One of her many strengths is her belief in the importance of understanding life through stories. Emergent Literacy depends on "story time" and as Documentation Team Lead in our Early Learning Center at SAS, Jodi used visual documentation to help children, teachers, and families co-create and nurture stories that were most essential to their thriving. Be it students or colleagues, her listening skills are exemplary. Jodi’s adeptness at searching for and connecting relationships among levels and perspectives maximized the potential and benefit of stories for our whole learning community. I have found Jodi's approach to teaching effective and authentic as well as refreshing. I am happy to know she continues to share her gifts and professionalism with children, colleagues and families through consulting and I recommend her without hesitation.
— Laura C Schuster, Early Childhood Expressive Arts Teacher & Former Colleague, Singapore American School
School & Community Leaders
Jodi encourages us in the everyday things we do in our job. She shows us what we do well and where we can grow. She is calm, patient, understanding, and, most importantly, she listens to us. I learn a lot from her actions. Working with Jodi helps me take a look at how I can encourage the staff at my care center. When I attend her classes, she keeps my attention so well – and that’s very hard. There is not a boring moment in her classes. That’s likely because she uses videos, photos, and stories about us to teach us. We can see ourselves in the possibilities.
— Holly Andrea Price, Child Care Center Owner and Director, Randolph County NC
Jodi and I have worked together since 2019. She has truly been a dynamic colleague in our county-wide efforts to help our early educators be the best they can be. Through visual documentation and storytelling, Jodi highlights the teachers’ strengths and interests, which nurtures their confidence as learners and facilitators of learning. She has taught them how to use a smartphone and digital camera to better see and understand children’s experiences, and then plan a curriculum that invites co-creation among children, teachers, and families. Jodi has also been instrumental in working with our school directors to clarify what actions will be the most effective to support their programs.
— Andee Edelson, Director of Early Care and Education, Randolph County NC
Jodi’s style is very much of a coach and facilitator. She isn’t the “expert” who provides content to the audience. She facilitates a process for the participants to be the experts. She spends time in school environments, programs, and classrooms. She takes pictures and videos of the teachers and children and notes stories of their work together. She uses these anecdotes as model examples of how to facilitate early learning. She really raises child and teacher voices as the experts. When training had to switch to virtual learning during the pandemic, she extended the process of small group work, relationships, and conversations online, which is not an easy thing to do.
— Nicole McCaskill, Early Childhood Community Learning Coordinator, Guilford County NC
Jodi was one of parents’ favorite speakers at our international virtual conference in 2021. She brought fresh insight about Sensory-based Inquiry and Visual Documentation at home. Conference participants were really enthusiastic for her session and were able to apply what they learned immediately. Jodi definitely nailed it!
— Alfona Kang, CEO, Mamaguru Co-Teaching Network
Jodi brings out the best in people. She presented with L&D expertise and emotional acuity to help us understand our individual and team strengths in life-giving ways that will help our organization thrive and, moreover, better serve kids in crisis through equine therapy.
— Elizabeth Love Kennon, Equine Manager, Hope Reins
Jodi’s expertise on the positive neurobiological effects of sensory play and visual documentation contributed powerfully to our national conference on Trauma Sensitive Schools in 2022. The attendees loved her session and are excited to use what they learned in direct and practical ways. Her knowledge and attuned calmness and presence make her an excellent facilitator. We would absolutely invite her to speak again.
— Ginger Healy, Parent Program Director, LCSW, Attachment & Trauma Network
In the 2016-2017 school year, Jodi joined a cohort of her peers at Singapore American School in a professional development opportunity called Strengths Communicator Training hosted by Leadership Vision. Their charge was to stir a community conversation about what is best in people, to be conversant in the language of strengths and conduct life-giving interactions to help people thrive. Jodi presented with acute emotional intelligence and integrated the Strengths based practices into her professional work with the families, young children and colleagues. Her insights and best practices positively shaped our program and delivery.
— Dr. Linda Schubring, VP & Principal Consultant, Leadership Vision
I have known Jodi since 2006, and have watched her grow from a teacher of toddlers exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach® to an early childhood specialist. Jodi is compassionate, perceptive, and relatable - all of which make her perfect for the role of facilitating genuine learning and wellness among teachers, children, and families.
— Monica Brinkerhoff, VP Early Childhood, United Way of Tucson & Southern Arizona
Health Practitioners
When Jodi facilitated a session on family engagement at the 2019 Home Visiting Summit hosted by Smart Start, I felt connected. She was very knowledgeable and clearly committed to information sharing in order to create the best environments and practices for colleagues, children, and families. Instead of sharing only her point of view, she offered video interviews that she filmed of families stating what they value during home visits. These first-hand accounts help us do our job better.
— Agatha Schutte, Family Partner, Center for Child & Family Health, Durham NC
I have had the privilege of partnering with Jodi in providing integrated care for children and youth experiencing a range of complex health and social difficulties. She brings to bear substantial expertise in child health and well-being, an indomitable passion for the thriving of all children, and an infectious energy and collaborative spirit that make her an ideal partner. She has had a substantial impact on the lives of so many children and families in our community.
— Dr. Richard Chung, Director of Adolescent Medicine, Duke Health, Durham NC
I participated in the highly positive, supportive Community of Practice that Jodi facilitated during the peak of COVID. She built and invited us into a spacious framework where we creatively and collectively tapped into wisdom about childhood learning. It helped me recognize areas of growth in myself and learn from others with different backgrounds and experiences. The C of P reminded me that all environments can be playful, comfortable places to learn. This is directly applicable to my work with hospitalized children and their families.
— Patty Atkins, Integrative Touch Therapist, Pediatric Integrative Medicine, Tucson AZ
Jodi is knowledgeable, approachable, and genuine. She lives out this commitment to the children and families in her community by showing up regardless. She looks not only at what is in front of her, but also to what could be.
— Micah Sedillos, Child Life Specialist and Resilience Educator, Raleigh, NC